Motive power for automobiles, &amp;c.



E. S. LEA.

MOTIVB POWER FOR AUTOMOBILES, 6w. APPLICATION FILED rrov. a, 1907. RENEWED DBO. 17, 1908.

922,489. Patented May 25, 1909.

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vwentoz wammm E. S. LEA. MOTIVE POWER FOR AUTOMOBILES, 6w. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1907. RENEWED D110. 17, 190B.

Patented May 25, 1909.

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. 'nnrrsn snares PATENT enrich.

EDWARD S. LEA, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROBERT WOLSTENHOLME, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOTIVE POWER FOR AUTOMOBILES, zc.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Application filed November 9, 1907, Serial No. 401,429. Renewed December 17, 1908. Serial No. 458,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. LEA, resi-.

certain improvements which are fully set V forth in the following specification, and shown in thecaccompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

I-Ieretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in the use of automobiles employing gasolene engines as the motive power, owing to the fact that the water cooler in cold weather becomes frozen, if care is not exercised, with the result that the coolers are frequently cracked and rendered unfit for use. This is especially the case where the automobile is employed in commercial business, and is under the control of a man of comparatively low order of intelligence, whose neglect of the requirements under the special conditions of the weather frequently permits the water in the cooler to become rozen, resulting in damage which is both expensive and inconvenient to repair, to say nothing of the loss of the use of the automo bile during the period of repair.

The object of my invention is to overcome the above objections by roviding the explosive engine with a coo er and associatedparts, whereby, should the engine remain at rest for a considerable lengthv of time the cooler coils automatically, or otherwise, discharge themselves of their fluid contents and are thus rendered safe from the dangers of freezing.

My invention consists of an explosive engine combined with one or more water cool- Us at a higher elevation than the engine, means for circulating the water from the engine through the water coolers, and means for automatically draining the water coolers whenever the engine remains out of operalion for a considerable period.

My invention further consists'of one or more coolers arranged out of the horizontal plane and having their highest and lowest parts connected with a receiving tank by tubular connections of different resistances to the flow of the water, combined with an explosive engine receix ing water from the lower part of the tank, and a pum to circulate the water from the engine an tank and deliver it into the coolers at their lowest parts.-

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an automobile cab containing motive apparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top of the cab showing the coolers; and Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a modified form of my invention.

A is the cab of the automobile, and may be made in any suitable manner desired.

B is the roof of the cab, and located upon the said roof are the water coolers C C, the said coolers being preferably arranged at a slight incline.

Dis a water tank arranged within the cab,

and may be provided with a gage glass N.

The u er parts of the coolers C C are connectafby a pipe I with the upper portion of the tank D, so that the water flowing from the upper portions of these coolers may pass downward into the'tank D. The water in the tank D is supplied by a pipe L to the jacketed cylinders of the engine E which may be of any ordinary explosive type. This enginemay be located within the cab or on any other part of the vehicle as preferred. The heated water from the engine is driven by a pump F upward through the pipe G intov a pi e H, which connects the lowest ortions o the two coolers C C.

It Wll now be understood that when the engine is running, the water circulates, passing upward through pipe G, then dividing,

and passing through t 1e two branches of the pipe ll into the lower portions of the coolers C O. The water leaves the coolers C C at the upper portions thereof, and flows downward through the pipe'l into the tank D, and thence back by ipe L into the engine to be again circulated. The tank D should have a capacity sufficient to receive all of the water from the coolers G C, so that when the engine is in operation, the water is at the level of the dotted line yy in the tank, but when the en ine is out of operation, said water rises to t e level of the dotted line In view of the fact that the pipe I is conio plished as the pump would not be tight, but

' where the pum operates in a positive manner, which won d prevent the return of the water, it then becomes necessary to provide means for draining the coolers C C directly into the tank, and for this purpose I provide a short circuit pipe J of smaller diameter which may be rovided with a needle. or

other valve K. This valve K is always kept partly open in cold weather, so that the pipe J becomes a bleed or constantly operating drain pipe between the supply and discharge sides of the coolers. As long as the pump is in-ope'ration, water will flow continuously through the coolers in volume and very slowly and in relatively small quantities through the bleed pipe J directly into the tankl). This bleed or leak around the coolers will not irn air their function to an terial extent; ut should the engine e allowed to rest for a long period, the waterin the coolers C C will flow by gravity downward through the pipes H and through the bleed pi e J directly into the tank D, air from sai tank rising through the pi e I into the highest points of the coolers ant permitting free flow of the water therefrom. In this manner, the cooling water is automatically discharged from the coolers C C into the tank D which is within the cab, and thereb protected against the intense cold to whic the coolers are subjected. In mild weather, the-valve K may be kept closed.

. 'In Fig. 2, I have shown the connections of the pipe I with one end of each of the uppermost manifolds of the coolers, whereas the pipes H H are connected with the other or owermost manifolds of the cooler at the opposite end, so that there is the same resistance to the flow of water throughout every portion of the coolers.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the tank D as arranged at an elevation abovethe engine, and for receiving the water from the coolers before passing to the engine, but this may be varied,as indicated in Fig. 3, in which case,

the receiving tank D is arranged at a lower elevation than the engine and the water is received by the engine directly from the coolers.

Referring to Fig. 3, the engine E directly receives the water from the coolers by the pipe I. The heated water from the engine E is discharged. by a pipe L into the tank D. The water in the tank D is lifted through the pipe M by the pump F. andllischarged upward through the pipes G? H, into the cool ers C C. In this manner, the circulation is from the coolers by pipe I into the engine, and from the engine by pipe L into the tank D. The water then passes by the action of the pump upward through the pipes M, G, H, into the coolers. A- short circuit pipe J and a needle valve K therein are provided be tween the pipes G and L and correspond to the pi eJ and valveK of Fig. 1, as in this case they permit the water from the coolers to pass downward bypipes H and G through the pipe J into the pipe J/ and discharge into the tank I). A drain pipe I having a valve 't may connect the pipe I with the tank D for the urpose of draining the engine when desired In these constructions above described, it is evident that the important feature of the invention resides in the means for properly 8' draining the coolers whenever the engine is brought to rest and maintained in that condition for any lengthy period, so that any carelessness or ignorance on the part of the man in charge can not destroy the operativc- 9O ness of the coolers, and thereby put the auto'-. mobile as a whole out of service.

In my improvements herein set out, it is evident that the tank D must have capacity to receive sufl'icient water from the coolers v whereby they may be drained to such an extent as will prevent rupture from freezing and while in practice, it is desirable that. all the water shall be, withdrawn, it is evident that this might not be essential in all cases. For example, if instead of the coolers being placed on an incline, they were allowed to remain horizontal, or should the automobile be standing at an angle such as to bringeither of the coolers C horizontal, then considerable water might remain in the lower part of the cooler pipes notwithstanding the drainage connections, but this would provide an air space above the water and thereby prevent injurious results from freezing as the ice would have space into which to expand. By sup lying the water to the lowest parts of the coo ers and discharging it from the highest parts, it is evident that in normal operation, the coolers are kept full of water, but under these conditions it is not feasible to discharge automatically from the highest level parts of the coolers by ableed line, and hence in the provision made this bleed line draws the water from the lowest part of the coolers through the supply pipe connections, or otherwise, as found most satisfactory.

While this invention is specially designed for use with gasolene operated trucks for W commercial nirposes, it is evident that it may be employed in stationary work or in connection with ap )aratus in which the gasolene engine is employed for operating hoisting machinery or other devices carried upon cars, boats, or other vehicles.

'l he pump may be of any construction found in the market, and such, for example, as is in use in connection with explosive-engines, and I therefore do not restrict myself to any character of pump.

The coolers C C maybe of any construction a desired, that shown being of the simple manifold form, and given as an example of a suitable cooler, for the purposes of illustrating the ob'ects and nature of my invention.

While I prefer the construction shown, the details thereof may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r I i 1. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an ex losive engine, a water tank for receiving t e water to be used to cool the engine, a water cooler at a higher elevation than the tank and engine, a discharge ipe from the cooler into the tank, a circu ating pump for circulating the water from the tank through the engine and.

cooler, and a bleed pipe for discharging the waterfrom the cooler into the tank without having to circulate through. the cooler under the action of the pump.

2. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive en gine, a water tank for receiving the water to be used to cool the engine, a water cooler at a higher elevation than the tank and engine, a discharge pipe from the cooler into the tank, a circulating pump for circulating the water from the tank through the engine and cooler, a bleed pipe for discharging the water from the cooler into the tank without having to circulate through the cooler under the action of the pump, and a valve in said bleed pipe to control the flow of the water therethrough.

3. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive en gine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged at a higher elevation than the engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all-of the water from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than the cooler, an overflow ipe from the cooler into the tank, means for circulating the water contained in the tank through the engine and cooler, and a bleed pipe for permitting the flow of water from the supply side of the cooler to the discharge thereof, whereby when the circulating means is at rest the cooler will automatically drain itself into the tank.

4. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged at a higher elevation than the engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all of the water from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than the cooler, an overflow pipe contained in the tank through the engine and from the cooler into the tank, means for circulating the waterfrom the tank through the engine and into the cooler, a bleed pipe for permitting the flow of water from the supply side of the cooler to the discharge thereof whereby when the circulating means is at rest the cooler will automatically drain itself into the tank, and means to control the flow of water through the bleed pipe.

5. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged'obliquely and at a higher elevation than the engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all of the water from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than thecooler, an overflow pipe from the highest part of the cooler into the tank, means for circulating the water through the cooler by a port in the lowest part of the cooler, and a bleed pipe for permitting the flow of the water from the supply side and lowest part of the coolerto the discharge thereof whereby when the circulating means is at rest the cooler will automatically drain itself into the tank.

6. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a water tank for receiving the water to use to cool the engine, a Water cooler at a higher elevation than the tank and engine, a discharge pipe from the cooler-into the tank,-a circulating pump for circulating the water from the tan through the engine and cooler, a bleed pipe for discharging the water from the cooler into the tank without having to circulate through the cooler under the action of the pump, and a cab inclosing the tank pump and pipe connections and arranged beneath and supporting the cooler.

7. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged at a higher eleva- 110 tion than the engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all of the water from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than the cooler, an overflow pipe from the cooler into the tank, means for cir- 115 culating the water from the tank through the engine and into the cooler, a bleed pipe for permitting the flow of water from the supply side of the cooler to the discharge thereof whereby when the circulating means is at rest 1 20 thecooler will automatically drain itself into the tank, and a cab inclosing the tank explosive engine and pipe connections and supporting the cooler upon the roof thereof.

8. In a motive power adapted for auto- 12 mobiles, a cab forming an inclosed space, a cooler secured upon the outside thereof, a tank arranged within the cab, a discharge pipe from the discharge end of the cooler into. the tank, an explosive engine, means to cause 1 the water to circulate through the tank and explosive engine and supply it to the receivingend of the cooler, and a bleed pipe constantly open for transferring the water from the cooler into the tank when the circulating means is at rest.

9. I11 a motive power adapted for auto mobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a water tank for receiving the water to be used to cool the engine, a water cooler at a higher elevation than the tank and engine, a discharge pipe from the cooler into the tank. and means for circulating the water through the engine and cooler when the engine is in operation and draining the cooler into the tank when the engine is at rest.

10. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged at a higher elevation than the engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all of the wa ter from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than the cooler, an overflow pipe from the cooler into the tank, means for c1rculating the Water contained in the tank through the engine and cooler, and 9. pi e which will permit the flow of water from the supply side of the cooler to the tank, whereby when the circulating means is at restthe cooler will automatically drain itself into the tank. n

11. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged at a higher elevation than'tie engine, a tank having a capacity large enough to receive all ofthe water from the cooler and arranged at a lower elevation than the cooler, an overflow pipe from the cooler into the'tank, means for circulating the water from the tank through the engine and into the cooler, and means for guiding the flow of water from the tank to the supply side of the cooler, and means for delivering water from the cooler to the tank whereby when the circulating means is at rest the cooler will automatically drain itself into the tank. i

12. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the combination of an explosive engine, a liquid tight cooler for cooling the water used to cool the engine arranged obliquely and at a higher elevation than the en gine, a tank having a capacity larger than the capacity of the cooler, means to nor-' mally drain the water from the cooler into the tank when the engine is at rest, and means for forcing the water from the tank g through the cooler when the engine is in mo- I tion. 1

13. In a motive power adapted for autol mobiles, the combination of the engine, a liqbe drained when the engineis at rest.

, into which the cooler may be drained, and ineaaaee mobiles, a cab forming an inclosed space, a liquid tight cooler secured upon the outside thereof, a tank arranged within the cab, a discharge pipe from the discharge end of the cooler into the tank, an explosive engine, means to cause the water to circulate through the tank and explosive engine and supply it to the receiving end of the cooler, and suitable pipes for transferring the water from the supply. end of the cooler into the tank when the circulating means is at rest.

14. In a motive power adapted for autouid tight cooler for the engine, and automat ically operated means for circulating a continuous body of Water through the cooler and engine, and a .constantly open drain pipe for discharging the water from the cooler to empty it when the circulating means is out ofv action, and having a normaldischarging capacity'which is greatly less than the capacity of the automatically operated means for circulating the water, whereby an excess of water is circulated by the automatically operated means over that which could pass through the drain pipe.

15. In a motive power adapted for automobiles, the' combination ofan'engine, a liqu'id tight coolerfor the engine, a tank at a lower level than the cooler and having a capacity greater than the cooler to receive substantially all the iwater from the cooler, means to circulate the water from the engine through the cooler in one direction, and means for causing the wate rto flow through and from the cooler in the other direction and into the tank, whereby the cooler may 16. In a motive power, the combination of an explosive engine, a liquid tight cooler for the water from said engine, means for circulatin the water from the engine in a solid body t rough the cooler, a receiving tank dependent means for draining the water of the cooler into the tank. p

17.. In a motive power, the combination of an explosive engine, an inclosed cab surroun'dmg the engine, a cooler for the water from said engine outside of the cab, means for circulating the Water from the engine through the cooler, a receiving tank within the cab of greater capacity than the cooler into which the cooler may be drained, and means for draining the water of the cooler into the tank.

In testimony of which hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD S. LEA.

invention, I have Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, A. RETTIG. 

